New Zealand's defence of their world championship softball crown sustained a huge dent when Australia ended the Black Sox unbeaten record with a crushing 7-0 win in the first post-section round in Saskatoon, Canada, yesterday.
Australia shut out the Black Sox with contemptuous ease, a four-run burst in the bottom
of the sixth inning sealing the upset win via the mercy rule.
New Zealand managed only one base hit by Rhys Casley - the first time they have failed to record a run in the tournament.
Australia, runners-up to Canada in their pool, opened the scoring in the second innings.
Two more runs were added in the fifth before a withering burst saw the contest called off with an inning to go.
Zenon Winter and Nick Shailes both scored twice for Australia while Michael Tanner, Jeff Goolagong and Tyron Bartorillo also crossed home plate.
"We are just going to have to regroup and start," said Black Sox coach Eddie Kohlhase said after watching his side fail to register a run for the first time in the tournament. "We're not happy with our performance and we just have to get back to some good old-fashioned Black Sox team work and get some resolve."
New Zealand's error rate was also unusually high; racking up six errors, half of which led to Australian runs.
"That was about pressure being applied and things just went from bad to worse for us as the game went on," Kohlhase lamented.
New Zealand completed pool play with a perfect seven from seven record, amassing 81 runs and conceding just five but those impressive statistics are now irrelevant.
"You don't like to lose. And to lose without firing a shot is certainly disappointing for us," Kohlhase said. "We are very disappointed with it."
Jeremy Manley started on the mound but he was relieved by Heinie Shannon after giving up six hits in four innings.
"We were in the game at 1-0 but we just didn't back him up in the field," said Kohlhase.
The Black Sox must beat Japan and then secure another two victories to progress to tomorrow's (NZT) final.
Canada are the only unbeaten team, having come back from a four-run deficit to pip US 6-4 after coming to life in the last two innings.
